The Oahu Bucket List: 69 Things to Do in the Gathering Place Before You Die

Oahu may be small, but our 596.7 square miles of land and 112 miles of coastline are packed with activities to cross off your bucket list. Hiking, swimming with sharks, eating spam and poi -- our adventure-filled island offers so much to see and explore so you can still get some kicks before, well, you kick the bucket.

Pack up your pop-up tent, hibachi, and beer cozies and grill the afternoon away at Aloha Stadium. Sure, the traffic getting there may seem borderline apocalyptic, but potlucking in the parking lot with your friends and family, at least once, is absolutely necessary.

5. Visit Pele’s Chair

Adventurers with rock-climbing experience can attempt to scale the prominent rock formation on the South Shore, but novice hikers can sit back and appreciate the spot where the Goddess of Fire is said to have last sat before departing Oahu for Hawaii Island.

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6. Attend a summer Obon festival

You don’t have to be Buddhist or own a yukata to enjoy this local community event... especially not if you’re there for the deep-fried donuts, stir-fry noodles, and teri beef.

7. Drink kava

A traditional drink of Polynesians for centuries, this herbal concoction made from the pulverized root piper methysticum, may look like dirt, but is known to relax the mind without decreasing mental sharpness. Try it in a smoothie at Diamond Head Health Cove, coconut flavored at Ong King Art Center, in chocolate form at Smokey’s, or at an authentic kava bar like Fiji Kava.

9. Climb the Haiku Stairs

So scaling the stairs to this former naval facility isn’t exactly legal (and by “not exactly,” we mean incredibly not legal), and a storm earlier this year wiped out part of the stairs, making the dangerous climb even more risky, but should the state ever open the park to the public, and you see the sun emerge through the clouds over the lush Ko'olau Mountains, you’ll understand why this hike is also known as Stairway to Heaven.

10. Rock jump at Waimea Bay

During the summer months when the surf is flat, climb up the 25ft monolith and relive this childhood rite of passage and cannonball into the cool crystal waters below.

11. Frolic in the sunflower fields

At the end of the year, acres of towering sunflowers bloom on a private farm in the North Shore. Leave your bee-allergic friends at home (sorry) and take time to smell the flowers.

12. Walk the plank at Alan Davis Beach

After spending time on Pele’s Chair, make your way to the beach during high tide and jump off the 6ft-high plank wedged into the rocky coastline. Back flips and twisting forward tucks, purely optional.

13. Find the bench built into a tree overlooking the ocean...

... and sit in it. Somewhere on the South Shore, exists this secret outdoor chair.

14. Picnic at Chinaman’s Hat (Mokoli‘i Island)

Toss your lunch in a waterproof bag, and paddle, swim, or walk (only during low tide) to the conical hat-shaped island, but be aware of the strong current, and the hammerhead sharks rumored to breed nearby.

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16. Find your favorite garlic shrimp truck

A trip to North Shore or Kahuku almost isn’t complete without succumbing to the aroma of garlic and butter wafting through the air. Sure, the bevy of shrimp trucks may seem like a tourist trap, but the local freshwater shrimp are downright delicious, so try ‘em all until you find the best.

17. Splurge on a fancy dinner

Maybe it’s the ultra-fancy private dining society at Vintage Cave, or taking orders omakase style from the Sushi Nazi at Sushi Sasabune, or an eye-catching seven-course meal at Nanzan Giro Giro. Either way, treat yourself to an over-the-top dining experience for at least one special occasion in your life.

18. Explore Moku Nui Island

Better known as “Mokes,” you can get to the larger of the two islands off of Lanikai Beach by kayak, paddle board, or canoe. Bring a barbecue and spend the day soaking in a natural pool, or rock climb and cliff dive at your own risk.

19. Go Christmas tree hunting

Get in the holiday spirit and pick out your Norfolk pine at a Christmas tree farm in Wahiawa, or better yet, apply for a permit with the forest reserve and chop down your own.

20. Venture through a lava tube

Go on a mini spelunking adventure, and wind through cave-light pathways, where hot lava once flowed to the sea. Don’t forget to bring a flashlight!

Only held when when the swells hit 40ft, this North Shore tournament honoring the famed local waterman, has gone down just eight times in its 30-year history, so watching big-wave riders compete for the trophy will be one to tell the grandkids.

22. Taste the ocean while eating fresh opihi

Only extremely seasoned foragers and swimmers should pry the gritty limpet off ocean rocks themselves, if you can find them. The popular ocean snack is a rarity on Oahu’s shores. If you don’t want to get taken out by the turbulent ocean waves that typically surround these jagged rocks, find them freshly shucked at Tamashiro Market or Alicia’s Market.

23. Take a dip in Black Point pool

The infamous salt-water infinity pool is in a private gated community. But if you don’t have the $3.8 million median asking price for one of its homes, most likely someone you know knows someone who has a friend, whose dad’s co-worker can get you the coveted key for a day. Or something like that.

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24. Swim with sharks

Sure you could swim with the ocean’s friendliest creatures, but why not amp it up and share the sea with its scariest? For best life expectancy, please opt to do it with professionals.

27. Snorkel at Electric Beach (Kahe Point)

Across the street from a power plant, a pipe discharges warm, bubbly water into the ocean, drawing in schools of fish, dolphins, and turtles.

28.Visit Goat Island (Mokuauia)

When tides are low, you can walk to this goat-shaped bird sanctuary (or paddle board over when they aren’t), where you can hunt for crabs and shells, bird watch, or just splash in the surf and pretend you’re on your own deserted island.

29. Find the swings and treehouse hidden around the island

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30. Hike to the Koko Crater arch

Instead of climbing Mother Nature’s homemade StairMaster, journey away from the overpopulated Koko Head railroad tracks and relax under this natural arch leaning against the mountain.

31. Pay your respects at a heiau...

Learn about the islands’ history and the significance of the ancient places of worship at Pu‘u o Mahuka Heiau or Ulupo Heiau and acknowledge Hawaii’s spiritual past. Remember to be respectful and don’t touch or move any ancient rocks.

Courtesy of Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA) / Tor Johnson

32. ... and Pearl Harbor

When bombs fell on December 7, 1941, American history changed forever. Honor those injured and fallen at the national monument.

33. Find a sunrise shell

Leave the metal detectors at home and scour the beach for one of the rarest seashells in Hawaii.

34. Hear the wind whistle through a bamboo forest

Depending on the weather, the sound of a breeze passing through bamboo can be a cross between a house falling down and a beautiful wind chime.

35. Watch the sunrise from Lanai Lookout

Listen to the waves hit the rocks as the sun emerges. On a clear day, glimpse Lanai, Molokai, and Maui in the distance, but even on a cloudy day, the view is always Instagram worthy. Pro tip: don’t leave your valuables in the car.

36. Spend the night under the stars

In a tent, in a cabin, take your pick. Whether it’s between the shady ironwood trees at Malaekahana, the open meadow at Mokuleia Forest Reserve, or the white sands at Bellows, turn off your cell phone, and take advantage of the great outdoors.

37. See a green flash

Does it exist? Watch the sunset every cloudless night and wait for the fleeting, intense burst of green before the horizon swallows the sun.

Courtesy of Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA) / Tor Johnson

38. Go whale watching

If you’re lucky, you’ve seen the majestic ocean creatures breaching the water, just by chance. But if the gentle giants elude you, book a boating tour between December and May during their mating season to better your odds.

39. Take a scenic drive around the entire island

Wake up early, fill up your gas tank, and embark on a circle tour around Oahu. Check a few items off your island bucket list and still make it home in time for dinner.

40. Discover the Maunawili hidden bridge and moss slides

But as always... if you have open cuts, stay out of the island’s freshwater ponds. Leptospirosis is probably not very fun.

47. Take photos under the Makai Research Pier

Order a Hawaiian plate lunch with your favorite staples, and if you’re lucky, you can watch workers hand-pounding fresh kalo outside the shop.

49. Go rock running underwater

Maybe you’ve seen pictures of your friends majestically trotting on the ocean floor, clutching a giant boulder in their arms, but it’s harder than it looks. Start in the shallow end with a smaller stone and work your way up to rock-running glory.

50. Go island hopping

Get off the rock! Explore the other rocks and build a brand-new bucket list.

51.Take a ziplining tour

Throw your fear of heights to the wind and soar through the trees for panoramic mountain and ocean views. Try CLIMB Works at Keana Farms or Kualoa Ranch, where you can zip side-by-side with your best bud all while learning a little Hawaiian history.

You’ve surfed, you’ve dove underwater, but have you really lived until you’ve jumped on a trampoline hovering above the Pacific Ocean? Well, there’s only one way to find out at this spot, where locals set up the gymnastic equipment on a disused pier. The state removed the trampoline once only to have another pop up, but it may only be a matter of time before it’s removed for good, so get a-hoppin'.

Every year around Valentine’s Day weekend, hundreds of global artists gather to repaint the murals in the Kakaako district. This weeklong festival began in Honolulu and features concerts, live art, and mural painting, and has expanded to countries around the world. See where it all began, and say goodbye to the old murals and hello to the vibrant, new artwork that will live on the walls for the next year.

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Strap on a helmet and take a four-wheel drive though the lush Kaaawa Valley and be prepared to get dirty. The guided tour rumbles through streams and scenic valleys and journeys through remote areas where famous movies and TV shows like Jurassic Park, Lost, and Hawaii Five-0 were filmed.

55. Scuba dive to a shipwreck

Sink to the depths of the ocean where plenty of wrecks await. Ranging from novice to advanced dives, choose a scuba adventure suitable to your skill level and explore a whole new world. Many wrecks like the Sea Tiger, US YO-257, and Carthaginian II were purposefully sunk, but the Corsair wreck came to its resting place after World War II when a pilot ditched his plane. Get scuba certified and see these ominous reefs for yourself.

56. Pay your respects for cancer awareness at Pu‘u ‘Ohulu Kai

The story goes that a hiker put eight prayer boxes near the old World War II bunker and came back to find additional prayer messages for people coping with cancer. The hiker got inspired and created the Maili Pillbox Hike for Cancer Awareness in 2015, and the walls of the now-pink bunker currently feature over 250 names of cancer fighters and survivors. For an easy, short climb, try the west side hike, which also features incredible views.

A quick, 1-mile trek from the Nuuanu Pali Lookout will take you through a bamboo forest and narrow ridgeline to a rock face with a small, Mother Nature-made hole the windward side of the island. The climb can be a bit treacherous, but you’ll be rewarded with one of the rarest views on Oahu.

58. Take a big leap

Sure, you can skydive anywhere in the world, but jumping from a plane with Skydive Hawaii or Pacific Skydiving Honolulu will give you a bird’s eye, postcard-worthy perspective of the islands as you tumble through the air from up to 20,000ft in the air.

59. Take a catamaran booze cruise

Hit the water with Holokai Catamaran, Maitai Catamaran, or Na Hoku II and the adult beverages of choice as a trained captain does the steering. Go during the day and work on your tan, or sail in the late afternoon and watch the sunset.

Why noodle around in a freshwater pool when beaches abound? Because you’ll journey through tall Cook pines, eucalyptus, guava, bamboo, and mahogany trees before getting to a 10ft waterfall, rope swing, and a giant pool where Hawaiian royalty once swam.

61. Visit a chocolate factory

You don’t need a golden ticket to visit a chocolate farm like Kahuku or Madre here. Hawaii is the only state in the US suitable for growing cacao and, by default, is the only state where you can watch the bean-to-bar process in action. Plus, it’s chocolate.

If you’re into fishing, check out the only tuna auction in the United States. This 90-minute educational tour will teach you everything about how the fish gets from the ocean to your plate, explaining the methods of catching them, grading them, and selling them to individuals and wholesalers alike.

63. Catch a wave on a canoe

Canoe racing is a popular team sport in the islands, requiring much strength and coordination. But if you don’t have the time to join a team or are just visiting, you can still get a gratifying paddling experience on a traditional outrigger with tour companies like Waikiki Beach Services and Big Wave Dave.

64. Taste Okolehao

Forget the Mai Tai and hunt down this Hawaiian moonshine, a robust spirit made from the root of the ti plant and once enjoyed by sailors and Hawaiian royalty. Outlawed twice -- once in 1818 by King Kamehameha and again during Prohibition -- this locally created spirit dwelled in the shadows of umbrella drinks but has been gaining more popularity in recent years. Find it at Island Distillers or select bars and lounges around the island.

Feel the wind in your hair as you soar the the sky, discovering hidden views of the islands so you can snap unobstructed views as you pass through mountains and over the ocean. And leave the selfie stick at home.

68. Take a hula lesson

Shake off your shyness and learn the graceful motions to the traditional, beautiful Hawaiian dance. Classes are available all over the island, but there’s always the chance that an experienced local will teach you for free.

69. Spot a monk seal or seabird at the island’s western tip

The Kaena Point trail offers two routes -- the Waianae leads through beaches, tide pools, and towering mountain cliffs while the Mokuleia traverses a raised limestone reef and sand dunes. Either way, you’ll end up at the nature reserve, where gorgeous plants, Hawaiian monk seals, and giant pterodactyl-looking albatross seabirds await.

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Summer Nakaishi is a freelance writer for Thrillist, who has a mild to moderate bird phobia.

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Oahu is home to some of the most spectacular sunrises and sunsets on this planet. The sparkling ocean makes a natural (and easy-to-access) accompaniment to nature’s mystical light show in the sky. Sometimes the sky will be bright orange and yellow -- a fantastic #nofilterneeded fire-y event. Other days, there may be a display of pretty pastel purples and pinks blending with blues and yellows, creating the perfect romantic backdrop. When you're trying to catch a particularly spectacular sunrise or sunset, you'll want to make sure you've found a beautiful setting to go with it. So here’s a list of the best places in Oahu to chase the sun and enjoying that magic moment.

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If the last “art” exhibit you liked was a beauty influencer's Instagram, it might be time to break out of your routine and tour some of the cultural highlights of Southern California. Luckily, Los Angeles is surrounded by lovely locales that offer the chance to experience fine art, dance, film, and history, all while taking a break from the city. So, plan a weekend day away and visit one of these cultural gems just outside of LA.

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Click here to see a blown-up version of the map, or scroll down below.